Hiatus: Day 50
Michio sat on Limon Isle surrounded by a handful of familiar Pokémon: a Solgaleo, Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio, as well as some shiny Shellder, Psyduck, and Slowking. His employers were seated a few yards back. The elderly couple enjoyed tanning on the beach under the hot sun, and Michio couldn't agree more.
"Michio, you surf?" Hiro, his male employer, asked. "This time of year, early fall, is when the waves start to get really big in the Orange Archipelago. Today the ocean is uncharacteristically calm but you will see tomorrow when we head over to Hamlin Island that the waves are just incredible."
"Yeah, I surf," said Michio. "And I can give ya a demonstration if that's what you are asking for."
Michio recalled the last time he surfed. Annastasia, Jay, Amber, Tamaki, Rita, all competing together in the Child's Day Competition. It seemed like years ago, but it had only been a few months. Long months, perhaps. His expression suddenly changed, and it was obviously noticeable, because Hiro's wife, Elsa came up to him.
"You look glum," she remarked. "What's eatin ya?"
"Nothing," he responded.
"Bullshit. You've been with us for a while now and you have been fairly pleasant, but every once in a while, we say something and you get all gloomy all of a sudden. Tell us what it is. We're old and wise—we probably can help."
"It's not something I want to discuss."
"Popplio pop!" the sea lion Pokémon chanted. It jumped into Elsa's lap and she cradled it warmly.
"I think that if you get it off your chest you will feel better," Elsa continued.
"Popopopo."
Nearly two full months of avoiding the subject, he couldn't take it anymore.
"I recently lost someone I really cared about," Michio confessed.
"A girl?" Elsa asked.
"Yes...sorta."
"What did screw up that made her want to leave?"
"It's a long story: difficult to explain."
"I've got time. Tell me your secrets."
Michio knew well by now that Elsa loved drama, provided a good listening ear, was patient, and as stubborn as himself. It was best to let it out.
"Okay, I'll tell you—but you better not give me a hard time about it," said Michio.
Michio first explained how he met Annastasia and how their relationship had slowly changed from hate on his end and moderate dislike on her end to friendship on her end and strong adoration on his. He also talked about Scarlett, and how he originally assumed the electric rat to be weak and unintelligent but was soon proven wrong when she showed herself to be smart, courageous, caring, and very powerful. He explained how they both left together to take on the monster that Annastasia and some of the other members of Team Rocket had described to him, doing his best to describe the aura situation.
"That's some tale," Elsa said when the story was over. "No wonder you feel low—I'll assume you didn't make it up."
"I wouldn't put that much effort into trying to entertain you," he replied.
"True."
"I plan on going back—if she ever comes back. I just didn't want to be around her siblings and friends all the time. It was getting to be too much. I needed to get away."
"Ironic when what you seem to want most is to have her around. But you've done the right thing—you supported her when she needed it."
Elsa kept watching Michio but didn't make further comments or walk away until he grumbled at her to stop staring at her.
"I've been meaning to ask: are you a member of the Kapule Klan?" she queried.
Michio looked at her quizzically. "How the fuck did you know?"
"The Solgaleo that's taken over your beach mat was a gift from the patriarch. Our families have business relations."
Michio watched the lionlike Pokémon asleep on the blanket he had previously laid out for himself. He assumed Elsa had acquired Solgaleo herself; she was clearly wealthy. He didn't suspect for a moment that the Kapule Klan was involved.
"So, to whom do you belong?" Elsa inquired. "And why are you working for me?"
"My parents are Keaka and Makoa Kapule. I sorta got banished for a while…" Michio replied. "I don't want to get into it now—if you know the Kapule Klan, you can probably imagine."
"Yes. Don't think for a moment you're the first."
"What do you mean?"
"Wailola and Peni did that to your Uncle Tua when he was your age. And it worked. He came back from Kanto a real gentleman."
"Wailola and Peni are my grandparents."
"I know."
'My father saw how it worked on his little brother when he was a teen and decided to give me the same treatment,' Michio said in his head.
"It sucks," said Michio. "I don't think I even want to go back now."
"But you were telling us the other day how wonderful of a place Alola is," Elsa responded.
"It is, or was, anyway. Some parts I like and miss: the warmth, the food, the familiarity...Going back now means I will have to deal with my family. They have so many expectations. I have to be their perfect son. Figure out how to become a gentleman and a cutthroat business guy at the same time. Deal with all their drama. And they want me to get married and have kids, which is never going to happen. If I do go back to Alola, it would be to some other island far from our estate."
"Hiro and I were like that. The cutthroat business types. It's why we are so rich now. But not everyone is meant for that kind of life. But you can always stand up to them. The Kapule Klan is intimating, but they can be reasoned with. They don't like wimps. If you stand up for yourself, they will respect you. Hasn't anyone ever told you to stand up for yourself?"
'I am not always going to be around to do these things," Michio recalled Annastasia telling him when he begged her to talk to Rita for him. "You have to learn to stand up for yourself.'
"I have been told that before, and you are probably right," said Michio. "But I'm a coward."
Elsa raised his eyebrows, wondering if that was sarcasm or not.
"You can work on it," she replied. "In the meantime, you make a great assistant. You've been a big help. It was worth the $25.50 an hour to have you come along and help us take care of this god-forsaken boat."
"It's a nice boat," said Michio. "And this fresh air and responsibility have been good for me."
Elsa wondered again if that was sarcasm, but regardless, knew there was some truth to it.
"Have we pulled you out of your shell?" she inquired.
"I never really talked to people before I came to Kanto. And I don't regret coming here—even though I hurt so fucking bad."
Elsa looked down on him sympathetically. "You've been suffering silently for a while. I sensed it…should've said something sooner."
"Doesn't matter—if you can't get her back, then nothing you can do will help."
"You should be seeing a therapist or something."
"Yeah, I'm sure there are loads of traveling therapists in this Pelago."
"Well, at least your sarcasm's back."
Elsa stood and shook the sand off her cover-up. Michio took out a new blanket since his other one had been kidnapped by the literal incarnation of the sun. He resumed his tanning.
"I encourage you to relax," said Elsa. "Don't waste your years being miserable."
"Then what should I waste it doing?" he replied. "You're old and occasionally sadistic, give me advice I can actually use."
Elsa and Popplio laughed at this. "My advice is to keep this job and wait for that girl to get back. Then try to convince her to stay with you."
"There's no guarantee she's coming back, not since we lost touch."
"From what you told me, I can see her mission as not only important but vital. It shouldn't be surprising that communication has been difficult."
Michio wanted to argue further but quickly came to the conclusion that the reality Elsa was picturing was his ideal; she was even more on his side than he was.
"Life isn't always fair and you have to work hard for the things you want," said Elsa. "It's a shame you didn't get the memo until this point in your life, but that is just how things are. Life has a few perks but mostly sucks. It takes strong people to make it worthwhile."
He didn't understand what she meant, but was done making personal confessions about what he did and did not understand and tired of discussing flaws both personal and circumstantial.
Two hours went by and Michio's Pokémon returned from their play for a break under his umbrella. They brought with them an unfamiliar Staryu. The Pokémon chanted a few expressions, then he understood.
"You can join us if you want," he said as he took out a Net Ball.
Staryu jumped into the ball without a single prompt. It then let itself out so that it could continue to spend time with the other Pokémon.
"That must've been the tenth time a while Pokémon requested out of nowhere to join your team," Elsa noted. "It seems Pokémon are drawn to you. You should consider doing gym battles."
"I'll keep it under consideration," he mumbled.
"With that sour attitude, I might just offer to pay you to try it. That'll cheer you up. After all, I have no grandkids to waste my fortune on, and God knows I can afford to pay you more."
Michio snickered. "Just forget it. Go back to sleep, Elsa."
"I will. But it'd be wise of you to consider it."
"Listen to her," Hiro groaned, waking from his nap. "She's right about nearly everything."
"I need a walk," Michio responded. "Text me if you need me."
"Sure, Honey," Elsa responded. Then she turned to Hiro and gushed about how nice it was to have a personal assistant like Michio.
Michio didn't bother to tell them about his bat-ability hearing and simply waved before leaving the beach with his Pokémon behind him.
A few steps into town, he saw a familiar sight: an elderly woman dressed in a dark purple robe. Beside her were two Ditto, who recognized his Pokémon immediately.
"Michio! I knew I'd find you here," Helena said as she approached.
"Ditto!" one of the Ditto exclaimed before transforming into his Weezing. The other turned into his Lickilicky.
"Oh, um…hi," Michio responded, wishing he could turn and run back in the other direction without causing a scene. "Why're you here?"
"I've been wondering about you. You left your original traveling group and I've been wondering why," she responded.
"It's complicated."
"Because of Annastasia."
"We lost touch with her completely. Not even her family knows what happened. Without her around, I had no reason to stay, so I'm doing this my own way."
"You are so lost."
"I'm fine and I don't want to talk about her."
Michio and his Pokémon started to walk away, but Helena said something that made him stop.
"You're hoping that she's okay. In fact, you are betting your life on it. I don't think that's a good idea. You should prepare yourself for the worse. Hope doesn't do anything in the real world. Just because people are good doesn't mean good things happen to them."
Michio fumed. "You don't know what you are talking about. Go away. Stop stalking me!"
Michio stormed away, his Pokémon falling behind. Helena and her Ditto were left in the sand.
XO
Three hours later, Jay called, right on schedule.
"Still nothing," he reported. "As you know they tried to send another team to look for them inside the Tree of Beginning, but all it did was irritate the tree. They don't want to go in again and risk infecting it more."
"Okay," Michio said softly. "How are you?"
"Holding up."
"The sleep?"
"Amb's still staying in my tent—it helps, having her so close."
"I know the feeling."
"So…I'll call you tomorrow."
"Yeah. Is Jocelyn there?"
"Oniisan?" Jocelyn piped in, pushing Jay over so that she and Flaafy were in full view of the videophone.
"Hey. How are you and Flaafy?" he asked.
"Good," she said happily. "Flaafy learned a new move, wanna see?"
"Of course."
"Okay, Flaafy, Double Electro Ball!"
"Flaaaaafeeee!" the Pokémon yelled, firing two balls of light at a tree. The bark split and burned. Both Jocelyn and Flaafy bowed when they finished the demonstration.
"What do you think?"
"Very good. You must've been working hard," said Michio.
"We sure have. Soon I'm going to be a big sister, and want to be just like Onēsan. I want to show her how much I have grown up so that she will be really impressed when she gets back."
"Flaafy Flaaa," Flaafy agreed.
"She will really proud—as proud as I am," he replied. "Good job."
"Thank you. I miss you. When are you coming back?" Jocelyn asked.
"Not anytime soon. Not unless she returns."
"Oh…well, don't worry, she will."
"I know."
"Goodnight, Oniisan."
"Goodnight, Jocelyn."
"Flaaaafy fla."
"You too, Flaafy."
XO
Later that night Michio lied in a hammock in the cabin of Elsa and Hiro's mega-yacht, staring out the window. It was a beautiful night. The stars were all visible, and a comfortable breeze drifted through the open window. His Pokémon were sharing a futon a few feet away, but unlike him, they had fallen asleep hours ago. He thought about Helena's words from earlier that day.
'You're hoping that she's okay. Hope doesn't do anything in the real world. Just because people are good doesn't mean good things happen to them. You should prepare yourself for the worst.'
"Stupid crazy fucking witch. Who says shit like that?" he whispered aloud, forgetting for a moment that Scarlett wasn't there to listen to him rant.
'But what if she's right? She is psychic.'
This was normally the part where Scarlett would chant random babble in her mysterious poke-language. It was always reassuring to hear the Pikachu's voice. He liked to have someone around to listen. And if he was being a total ass, that same voice would be there to straighten him out. Annastasia being gone was bad enough, but having Scarlett gone was just as devastating.
'I'm resting on a yacht while the people who actually treated me like I belonged to their family are hurt, spread apart, and two of them are missing.'
Michio shuffled to the window. The yacht was currently docked, and some Pokémon were resting on and around the boat. He noticed some lights reflecting off the white of the boat, and looked up at the sky. Dancing under the stars were about twenty Illumise and Volbeat.
He remembered the look on Annastasia's face and her words that time they discovered them together:
'You can use them to send messages…my father would sometimes send messages to my mom.'
"Volllllbeat!" one of the males called down to him. "Volbeat Vollll."
"Lumeeeees," said another.
Michio shook awake his sleeping Arbok, Venomoth, and Weezing. He led them to the window and pointed at the sky.
"Tell those Pokémon I need them to do me a favor," he whispered. "Tell them it's important, and if they do everything I tell them to do, I will return the favor over as many times as they need."
"Char bokkkk…"
"Weeeeezzzzzing."
"Veno."
"Thanks," Michio whispered. "Now get them."
Weezing and Venomoth glided over to the Volbeat and Illumise, who were descending from their flight, while Arbok slivered to the firefly Pokémon that had already settled on the dock. Michio watch them converse. Several minutes later, the Illumise and Volbeat all gathered in one spot, a grassy area near the water, and Michio's Pokémon returned through his bedroom window.
"Charbok bok bok," said Arbok, using its head to push Michio out the door.
Venomoth and Weezing also encouraged Michio to leave his room. He threw on a t-shirt and sandals and followed his Pokémon to the spot where the Volbeat and Illumine had gathered.
"Illumise Illumise mise," the apparent matriarch of the group started, pointing at Michio.
"You'll help?" Michio asked.
"Volvovo," said another.
"This would be a great time for a translator."
Venomoth shook her head 'no' and lifted a piece of driftwood. She drew lines in the dirt. Then she handed the stick to Michio.
"You want me to write out m message," he inferred.
"Illu," said the leader, nodding her approval.
'Easier than I expected…But what to say?'
"I need some time to think of the exact wording," said Michio. "First, I think I should explain who this message is for and how I think you might be able to find her. Can you understand?"
Once again, the leader acknowledged him and the others chanted in agreement.
"Her name's Annastasia. She has long blond hair and blue-green eyes. She is seventeen years old, a little above average height, fair skinned, and fit. Japanese, but she speaks multiple languages, including English. She wears a Team Rocket uniform most of the time. She is most likely to be with a Pikachu, an Altaria, a Lillipup, and/or a Lucario. She might also be with Mewtwo. If you see Mewtwo, ask him to help us find Annastasia. He will know what I am talking about. The Pikachu is called Scarlett, the Lillipup is called Lil-G, and the Altaria is called Bleu. Let me know if any of them are separated. If they are, bring them back. You can use these."
He handed them a satchel filled with empty Pokéballs.
"Illumise, mise," the leader said as she looked inside.
"I don't know what you are saying, but if you do this for me, I will give you anything you want. My entire inheritance. Millions of dollars, and more, if you want. I also have rare berries of all flavors that have been proven to give Pokémon extra strength and resistance. I have potions you can use for whenever you get hurt, and I won't try to capture you unless you want me to," said Michio. "I'm begging."
"Illumise, lulu mise."
The others once again joined in. He accepted this as a yes.
"They should be in Toka near a place called the Tree of Beginning," Michio continued. "Do you know where that place is?"
The Pokémon nodded and chanted. Michio gripped the stick that Venomoth brought and carved out his message in the ground. When he finished, he took a step back to admire his handiwork. After deciding that it was sufficient, told the Volbeat and Illumise that it was complete. They studied the messaged then chanted something at Michio.
The leader darting upwards enthusiastically. The others followed her northeast over the bay.
"I owe them big time," he sighed. "They're supposed to be migrating south, not north towards the mountains. I wonder why they would go so far out of their way to help."
"Charrrrrrr bok."
"Vennnnomth"
"Weezing"
"Yeah, it's because average Pokémon aren't so bad."
XO
Several miles away, Helena watched the Illumise and Volbeat race across the sky. She turned to her two Ditto and smiled.
"I knew that would motivate him," she said. "That kid has always been so stubborn, but telling him something he doesn't want to hear will always get him moving."
"Dit-to dit-to."
"Let's go to sleep. We'll see how this goes later."
XO
IN THE NEXT CHAPTER:
· Hiatus, day 62
· Ash visits his momma
· Another Mew mystery- solved?
AN: Thanks for all the reviews everyone please leave more I love reading your thoughts:) Thank you times infinity:)